A Look At 10 King’s Prospects

By Michael Harbison

August 20th, 2001

Los Angeles Kings 2001-2002Prospect Previews

1. Alexander Frolov -LW-2001-2002 Team: Yaroslavl (Rus. Super League)

Alexander will make the jump from the RussianUpper League to Russia’s topprofessional league, the Russian Super League. Frolov,will definitely go through a bit ofan adjustment from the Upper League to the SuperLeague, but NHL scouts and theKings love his consistent goal-scoring over the pastcouple of seasons and believe he cancarry it over to the Super League. The two partiescould not agree on a contract beforethe July deadline so Frolov will not be in camp andwill not have a chance to make theteam. Frolov just needs to stay consistent and showthat he can play with the best inRussia. A solid season in the RSL and a solidperformance at the WJC’s for Frolov couldmean a nice contract and a good shot at making theclub in 2003.

Yannick Lehoux took the QMJHL by storm, and openedmany eyes within the Kingsorganization last season. The 2000 3rd round draftpick lit the lamp 67 times in 70 gameslast year as an 18 year old. Despite being only 19years old entering training camp theKings will give Lehoux at least a chance to win a jobthis season. Yannick will most likelylose out in a numbers game and be returned to theQMJHL but another year of juniorshould help Lehoux improve his defensive game. Astrong performance in the CHASummer camp and a lack of older centers shouldguarantee Lehoux a spot on theCanadian WJC team if he fails to make the Kings. TheKings would like too see Yannickimprove in his overall game and gain another 10 lb. ofmuscle before the 2003 seasonstarts.

Jens Karlsson, the teams #1 pick (18th overall)in the 2001 Draft will look to bounceback and establish himself in the Swedish Elite Leaguefollowing a disappointing rookiecampaign last season. Karlsson who at the beginning oflast year was projected to be aTop 10 pick struggled for Frolunda’s top squad andsaw some time in the 2nd divisionand the Junior league. Many observers thought theKings reached in taking the powerforward who scouts thought was going to fall out ofthe 1st round.

Jens is a project sodon’t expect to see him on Staples Center ice for atleast 2-3 years, he needs to work onhis hockey sense, in particular how to control histemper and how to use his enormousskills. Karlsson has already been named to the SwedishWorld Junior team and will berelied upon to produce offensively and be a physicalpresence.

The Kings are cautiously optimistic about the 19year old they acquired in the RobBlake trade. Jared had a breakthrough season last yearfor the Blazers and he establishedhimself as one of the top playmakers in the WHL. Aulinwho was practicing with theKings during their playoff run last spring will get agood look in camp, but will almostcertainly be back in Kamloops to join a potentiallypotent Blazers team. Jared was alsoinvited to the CHA’s Summer camp in preparation forthe WJC, his WJC chances willlikely depend on how many of the eligible forwardsmake their NHL clubs.

Jared likemany other talented offensive players his age doesn’tplay two-way Hockey. The Kingswould like Aulin to improve in this part of his gameplus other little things like face-offsand playing more physical. You will probably see Jaredup for spot duty with the Kingssometime in the 2002-2003 season.

The 6’5 190 lb. Steckel returns to the Buckeyesfor his sophomore season in2001-2002. Dave did the opposite of Jens Karlsson androse all the way up to the 1stround of the draft last year. Scouts who went to seeOhio St. Blue-chip prospect R.J.Umberger started to take notice of Steckel. Dave is amajor project for the Kings and hisskating is still a major concern, but his size and rawskills make him an intriguing prospect,Ohio St. Head Coach John Markell probably put it best,“You’ve only seen the tip of theiceberg as far as what Dave is capable of.”

Dave wasa veteran of last years United States WJCteam will be back again this season and will likelyplay a bigger role for Team USA. TheKings will look for Dave to continue improving hisskating and definitely try and bulk upthat 6’5 frame. Dave will probably finish his 4 yearsat Ohio St. and turn pro in 3 years.

Cammalleri heads back to Red Berenson’s MichiganWolverines for his Junior year atthe grand old age of 19. Cammalleri the native ofRichmond Hill, Ont. graduatedhighschool at age 16 so that he could play for theWolverines as a Freshman at age 17.Cammalleri had a stellar 2001 season, leading theConference in goals with 29 andfinishing 2nd on the team in scoring with 61 Pts (AndyHilbert 64 Pts). The talented pivotalso shined for Canada at the WJC’s, finishing tiedwith Jason Spezza for 2nd on the teamin scoring.

Major size concerns are holdingCammalleri back from a potential NHLcareer, at 5’9 180lbs Cammalleri is going to struggleagainst bigger NHL competition,and if he does make it, he will likely be switched tothe wing. Cammalleri is definitely theKings boom or bust prospect in the system, much likeJustin Papineau was 2 years ago.Size cannot be taught so the Kings would likeCammalleri to continue to score a lot thisyear while assuming a leadership role for theWolverines and the National Junior Team.

Rullier’s 1st professional season was an up anddown experience. The 6’4 205 pounderout of Montreal took a lot of time to adjust to thepro game. The Kings even for a timethought about sending Rullier to the Czech Rep. toplay for Sparta Praha of the CzechExtra League, a team owned by Kings owner PhillipAnschutz. Rullier stayed andgradually started to improve for the Lock Monsters.

Rullier is never going to be anoffensive defenseman, making the smart defensive playand a nice first pass are what hisgame is all about. Rullier will get a look in camp andwill play in some exhibition games,but he is a good 2 years away from being NHL ready.Rullier needs to continue perfectinghis trade for the Monarch’s, doing the little thingsthat 5 and 6 defenseman do in the NHLand he should someday be a 3rd pairing defenseman.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. 98-99 was a dreamseason for Alexei Volkov, he wasdrafted into the NHL in the 3rd round by the Kings.Volkov was outstanding his first yearin North America. Posting a 25-9-3 record, 2.72 GAAand league best 91.5 save% for theHalifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL. Volkov was alsobetween the pipes for the Russian’sas they claimed the gold at the 1999 WJC’s inWinnipeg. A little over two years later andVolkov has fallen apart, after losing his starting jobin Halifax in 99-2000 to 17 year oldPascal Leclaire, Volkov showed up to Kings camp interrible shape and looked horrible innet. After an atrocious start with Lowell of the AHLin which Alexei posted a pathetic82.5 save%, the Kings sent him down to New Orleans ofthe ECHL.

Things turned aroundfor Alexei in the ECHL, but lets be realistic, it isthe ECHL, its not where he should be atthis point. The Kings again will start Volkov in theAHL, most likely splitting time withAHL veteran Travis Scott. Despite being only 21, thismight be it for Volkov, at leastwith the Kings. If he again flops in the AHL the teamwill almost surely draft a goaltenderin either the 1st or 2nd round in 2002, knocking theRussian netminder even farther downthe depth chart.

Seeley has matured a lot in the last couple of yearsand will be looked upon as a leader onthe blueline for Manchester next season despite beingonly 22 years old. Seeley has NHLsize at 6’3 217lbs and is very good at clearing thefront of his crease with his greatstrength. Seeley should look to current King AaronMiller as someone he should model hiscareer after. Miller played 4 years of college andwas in the Nordiques minor leaguesystem for 3 seasons before finally becoming a regularwith the Avs. This season Seeleyneeds to work on his all-around game and cut back onthe mental mistakes that have killedhim in past training camps with the Kings.

I don’t even know why I still have Shefer in my Top 10Kings Prospects. Its very hard todo a write-up on a guy that has pretty muchdisappeared off the face of the Earth. TheKings never mention him anymore and its unknown atthis point where he will play nextyear, his team SKA was the worst team in Russia andhas been relegated from the RussianSuper League to Upper League, and no idea if Sheferwill transfer clubs or play in theUpper League.

Its all pretty much been down hill forAndrei since he was drafted, he cameto North America for the 99-2000 season and joinedfellow Russian Kings prospect AlexeiVolkov on the Halifax Mooseheads. The Mooseheads tookspecial care of Shefer and hisgirlfriend even renting them their own apartment.Andrei proved to be a soft perimeterplayer on the ice, and moody off the ice. He angeredboth the Kings and the Mooseheadswhen he bolted back to Russia and signed a big $$ dealwith SKA. You can’t right him offsince he is a very talented 20 year old, but you gotto wonder how dedicated he is tooplaying in the NHL.